sub-sp.?).—Resident. Not nearly so plentiful as the preceding, but found in various localities about Perth and Fremantle.
186. Dusky Miner. Myzantha obscura (M. flavigula obscura). — Resident. Fairly common. In small parties in wooded parts.
187. Red Wattle-Bird. Anthochæra carunculata (Coleia c. woodwardi).—Resident. During the winter these birds assemble in great numbers in those parts of the district where flowering banksias are.
188. Little Wattle-Bird. Anellobia lunulata (Anthochæra chrysoptera lunulata).—Resident. Common, especially in the coastal districts.
189. Australian Pipit. Anthus australis (A. a. bilbali).—Resident. Not very common, as there is little arable or grass land in the district. The coastal limestone hills, where they are covered with grass, are perhaps the only natural habitat of the species, which is found in such places on the mainland and on Rottnest Island.
190. Australian Crow. Corvus coronoides (C. c. perplexus).—Resident. Common in the district, and on Rottnest and Garden Islands.
191. Leaden Crow-Shrike. Strepera plumbea (Neostrepera versicolor plumbea).—Resident. Rather scarce in the district, and decidedly local in its habits, almost confined to places in the tuart forest.
NOTES ON DIRK HARTOG ISLAND AND PERON PENINSULA, SHARK BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
By F. Lawson Whitlock, R.A.O.U., Chiltern, Tudor, via Albany, W.A.
Introduction.
Dirk Hartog Island is separated from the mainland of Australia by a channel less than two miles wide. Steep Point, on the south side of the channel, forming the most westerly portion of the mainland. Peron Peninsula is separated from the island by Denham Sound, and hes to the east about 21 miles. Both the island and the peninsula run in a north by north-westerly direction. The 26th parallel S. latitude runs through both, and the 113th degree E. longitude passes through the northern half of Dirk Hartog. Denham Sound forms part of Shark Bay.
The climate is somewhat remarkable, the temperature being about 10 degrees cooler than the mainland in the vicinity of Hamelin Port, which lies at the most southern portion of the bay. This is due to the general prevalence, during the warm weather, of strong southerly wands, locally termed "southerly busters." These winds begin early in the day, increasing in strength till midnight, then slowly subside towards daybreak, by which time practically a calm prevails. The rainfall on Dirk Hartog averages about 12 inches, on Peron rather less. This is probably due to the absence of any elevated land on the peninsula, in contrast to the high ridges running almost the whole length of the western side of Dirk Hartog, an elevation of 600 feet being attained at Herald Heights. This high ridge appears to intercept and condense showers travelling in an easterly direction from the Indian Ocean. The greater part
